South East Asian Eurybrachyidae (Eurybrachyid Planthoppers)

The temperate species in this Family that I am familiar with in Australia are mainly adapted to living on the browns and greys of Eucalyptus bark which is continually shed (decorticated). This bark phenomenon is very much less apparent in South East Asian rainforests where bark is often almost made invisible by the microplants and lichens that adorn it. Lichens are a fabulous complex background on which to camouflage. Tropical insects and spiders from many Families have evolved to camouflage on lichens. This Eurybrachyid hopper is one such example

Only a small number of rainforest trees shed their bark continually like the Australian Eucalypts. The bark flakes of a living tree that sheds regularly come in different sizes from small through to large. This Eurybrachyid hopper looks as though it camouflages as a small barkflake. This species appears allied to the genus Thessitus

One of the uniting features of species making up the Family Eurybrachyidae is the presence of two long terminal wax tufts in nymphs that often exceed the body length. In most temperate species the nymphs hold the filaments erect in contrast to this rainforest lichen bark nymph. Evolution has 'taught' those creatures that are adapted to flat surfaces that casting a shadow of yourself will quickly remove you from the gene pool. The abdomen bears a 'skirt' of wax filaments whereas the legs bear broad flanging. All these modifications connect with the substrate at their edges effectively casting little or no shadow

One of the uniting features of species making up the Family Eurybrachyidae is the presence of two long terminal wax tufts in nymphs that often exceed the body length. In most temperate species the nymphs hold the filaments erect. Evolution has 'taught' those creatures that are adapted to flat surfaces that casting a shadow of yourself will quickly remove you from the gene pool. The waxy 'skirt' and strongly flanged legs of the nymph are reduced or absent in the winged adult. It is the wings that are flanged to achieve the same camouflage effect. The wing flange connects with the substrate at their edge effectively casting little or no shadow